Perturbed by aĀ city administration recommendation against allowingĀ marijuana businesses inĀ the city because ofĀ “negative long-term impacts on the image and brand of the community,”Ā first-year Plymouth City Commissioner Alanna Maguire offered another take on the topic during a March 21 meeting.
Maguire took exception to the meeting’s agenda packet that she described asĀ filledĀ with materials focused only on the negative side of marijuana usage and sales.
“We need to stop stigmatizing people who use cannabis, which is a legal product, whether you like it or not,” Maguire said. “City of Plymouth residents overwhelmingly approved the legalization of marijuana in 2018 and prior to that (the legalization) of medicinal marijuana.
“What we need to do is actively apply the same due diligence with this issue that we do with other complex issues facing the City of Plymouth.”
After voters approved recreational marijuana in Michigan, local municipalities could decide if they allowed facilities to sell it or not.Ā It’s aĀ decision to opt out, and almost all western Wayne County communities have done so.
City residents favored legalization in that 2018 election, 3,256-2,123, or just over 60% of the vote.
It’s unclear if the issue will come back beforeĀ the elected officials any time soon.
Plymouth city commissioners did not vote March 21 on whetherĀ the city should legalize marijuana facilities.
“It is my understanding that we can revisit this issue as a commission by placing it on a future agenda,” Maguire said.Ā “I donāt believe that we are locked in to opting out for the rest of 2022 after (the March 21) meeting.”
IfĀ a Plymouth resident wanted to legally purchase marijuana, the closest municipality that allows dispensaries is Redford Township, which is an approximate 10-mile drive.
The city administration’s presentation suggested most municipalities that allow marijuana-sales businesses are in college towns (Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti) and areas where economic redevelopment is needed.
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City Manager Paul Sincock shared aĀ November 2021 Eastern Michigan University citizen survey that indicated 61.5% of Plymouth residents who participated felt marijuana sales should not be permittedĀ in the downtown business district (26% were in favor, 12 percent marked “maybe”), while 52.1% were not in favor of the permission of sales in Old VillageĀ (34.2% were in favor and 13% checked “maybe”).
Survey results were nearly split regarding marijuana sales outside of those areas with 42% in favor, 40% against and 17.6% saying “maybe”.
Sincock also said that legalization would expose the city to potential lawsuits.
“Say you’re going to authorize three (marijuana sales) locations in Plymouth and five people apply,” Sincock said. “The seven of you (city commission members) get to choose the winners and losers, which is obviously a situation rife for litigation.”
Maguire countered by saying she was disappointed that the discussion lacked any positive impacts of legalĀ marijuana sales in the city.
“We need to hear from (users, caregivers) as well as entrepreneurs and business owners. We need to have a clear economic analysis about what could be coming into the city of Plymouth that could be helpful to us when it comes to exploring the possible revenue streams.
“These are all potential positives that we are missing from this discussion. We need to hold meetings in the community and bring people together. If they’re against it, they can tell us that. If they’re in favor, they can tell us. The people who use this product runs the gamut, so I caution people against saying it will hurt our image and brand.”
The state recently announced that more than $1.1 billion in adult-use marijuana sales were reported for fiscal year 2021. That resulted in more than $111 million in taxes. Of that, about $42.2 million was dispersed among 163 communities that allow marijuana businesses.
First-year commissioner Jennifer Kehoe agreed with Maguire, adding “a more nuanced discussion is needed.”
Plymouth Mayor Nick Moroz said he doesn’t see “general interest” from the city commission that would lead to the city opting in to legalized marijuana sales.
“But that could change if there is a major legislative change in the marijuana regulatory environment or revenue-sharing environment,” Moroz said. “We could certainly have discussions that change our current stance, but that would take a number of meetings, I imagine.”
Contact reporter Ed Wright at eawright@hometownlife.com or 517-375-1113.
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